Hello, Yellow Fellow

Chapter 40

Hello, Yellow Fellow
Chapter 40: Control

"This is just business, right?" tanong ko, kahit alam ko na ang sagot.

My mom wasn't the type to mix emotions with work— except when she did. And I could sense something more behind her proposition.

"Of course," she replied, her tone was steady. Pero nakita ko kung paano lumambot ang mga mata niya, just for a split second, a rare vulnerability slipping through. "But it would also be an opportunity for you, Matthew. Working closely with me on this project could benefit us both."

"Us?" I repeated, crossing my arms.

The last time she talked about 'us,' things didn't exactly end well. She wanted control— over everything. And now, she was subtly trying to reel me back in.

"Professionally," she clarified, pero alam ko na may iba pang ibig sabihin.

Her tone might've been calm, but there was an underlying plea, an unspoken hope that maybe, this could fix things between us.

But it didn't sit well with me.

"Professionally?" I scoffed, shaking my head as the frustration built inside me. "That's the thing, Mom. It's always about the business with you. No matter what happens, lahat ng desisyon mo, umiikot sa trabaho, sa kumpanya."

Her expression didn't change, pero nakita ko ang bahagyang pag-igting ng mga kamay niya, clasped tightly in front of her. "That's not true, Matthew. This is about opportunities— for you, for Elio."

"Elio?" I snapped, leaning forward, my voice hardening. "You're dragging him into this? Wala siyang alam sa mundo mo— sa mundo natin. This is just another one of your power plays to get control of everything around you."

"Matthew—"

"Hindi!" Tumayo ako, pushing the chair back slightly. "This is exactly why I walked away in the first place. You never cared about reconciling with me, or even our family. All you care about is your image, the brand, your precious business." The words came out harsher than I intended, but they were true.

This had been building up for years, a deep-seated resentment that I could no longer hold back.

She stayed seated, composed as ever, but I saw the flicker of something in her eyes— hurt, maybe, or regret. Still, her voice remained calm. "I've always had your best interest in mind, Matthew."

I laughed bitterly. "Really? Is that what you tell yourself to sleep better at night? You think dragging Elio into this is what's best for me? For us?"

"I'm not dragging him into anything," she said sharply, her professional demeanor slipping for a brief moment. "I see potential in him, and I want to give him an opportunity. That's all."

I clenched my fists. "But it's never just about that, is it? You always have to control everything. You think you can use him to get to me? To pull me back into your orbit?"

She didn't answer immediately, her silence saying more than any words could. It was her usual tactic— let things simmer until the other person caved. But not this time.

"You know why I'm doing this, right? I'm protecting you," her voice cracked slightly.

"You know the reason why you left the country, but dahil sa kakulitan mo, you need to abide me on this," her words hit me like a punch to the gut. 

Fuck. This isn't the right time to bring this up again. I remained silent, feeling the shock, guilt, and pressure building up inside me. Muntikan ko na makalimutan ang lahat ng nangyari noong araw na iyon.